Jul 18 Someone Knows Something

In 1972, a little boy called Adrien McNaughton wandered away from his father and siblings during a fishing trip in rural Canada and was never seen again. Over the ensuing decades, his family were left with a dwindling supply of hope, and unanswerable questions. Did he come to accidental harm in the woods or water? Did somebody kill him, or kidnap him? Was he being raised by a desperate, childless family, under some other name?

Cold case documentaries are something of a speciality for filmmaker David Ridgen, whose work has resulted in arrests and convictions in formerly stalled cases. In this compelling CBC series, Ridgen - who grew up in the same town as the McNaughtons - is determined to figure out what happened to Adrien. He soon uncovers gaps in the original investigation, and begins to do the work that ought to have been done in the first place: bringing in sniffer dogs, arranging for accurate sketches, canvassing nearby towns. He is also a compassionate ally to the family, who carry their pain with dignity. Whether they will find what they're looking for, only time will tell. Either way, we'll be listening.